Maiko Nakamura [complete]

[Izaya Orihara]

For the most part, Maiko seems a very nice character. Her personality is nice and the strengths and weaknesses are decently balanced. However, a few concerns came up in the history section...

Realistically, it doesn't seem likely that likely that someone would be able to be in her position so easily. For someone to become a famous author, it does take time, especially in Japan, where the publishing tends to be a little harsher at times than other places (Ikebukuro is also part of Tokyo, which makes a penthouse VERY expensive, and not easy for a single person to get. Even for an author. She would have had to have been something like the modern-day Arthur Conan Doyle of Japan.) Also, waitressing can take a lot of time, so it doesn't seem likely that she would have time to write all these best-sellers (given the strict guidelines that usually occur in this country) managing a job like that.

I'm also concerned that her child-abuse seems to be more of a plot-point than actually blended into her personality and history. She seemed to get over it a little to easily and a quick-temper seems a small wound to be taken from something that lasted so long when she was so young. She also started smoking at a VERY young age, and there seem to be no effects of this at all. Her lungs were still developing at ten. Even if she didn't do this often, the likelihood that there were no effects is fairly slim.

Be sure that you're not coming too close to the levels of intelligence exhibited by canon characters such as Izaya or Shinra, or, if you do decide to have your character be that intelligent, don't be a show-off about it, and don't try to make plot points revolve around her intelligence. It's best not to have your character figure out something that Izaya couldn't, for example.

Sincerely,

Izaya and Shizuo
~ Admin and Co-admin

[maiko]

EDITTED
Alright, I understand completely where you're coming from and how I wasn't very clear on a few things and I apologize for that.

For one, concerning the author-maid-income deal: The way I invisioned her having this money is due to her illegal activities previous to her current status. However, I rethought this idea and made the corrections above. She now lives in just a regular apartment. Going along with that, when I stated she was a "relatively famous" author I meant outside of Japan, thus her alias being an American name (Sara Geneva). And I didn't expect her to have written numerous best sellers, just a few books that were relatively known. Nothing fancy. But I once again rethought that and now she is simply a writer striving to make a break. Perhaps with a bit of writer's block, which is stopping her from going on with her work.

Secondly, the abuse: I completely understand what you mean by this. I had the intention of having Maiko have numerous insecurities that were hidden in her, masked by a hard, always-smiling outer exterior that she acquired when she realized she had to become stronger when she was with her uncle. I changed a few things in the app (highlighted in white) that I hope clarify this just a bit more.

Thirdly, her smoking habits: I suppose I never did really think about the logic in this case (haha), but you're right. So I changed things to where she began smoking in her later years of high school and the habit has stuck since then. Also, I never imagined her as very athetic, not really able to do much in that area due to her bad habit.

Lastly, her intelligence: Now, this is the point I have the most concern with. I can understand what you said, but I think it is a bit pompous to believe that another character couldn't (or shouldn't) be as intelligent as Izaya or Shinra. I had no intention of making her intelligence excessively prominant in her plotting unless the topic arose, but it is indeed an important part of her character that I quite enjoy and feel is vital to who she is. Perhaps in some cases, yes, she CAN match the levels of Shinra and Izaya, but in different ways. Her intelligence is more of a billion and one facts spinning around her head and a passion for learning. She doesn't have Izaya's tactical processing abilities or Shinra's medical expertise, but she has her own sort of knowledge. And that's not going to change. And I would appreciate if I was able to keep her as such without a problem. If, later on, I let it become too much I would gladly chat with you about it and listen to your argument.

[Shizuo // Kururi]

Lastly, her intelligence: Now, this is the point I have the most concern with. I can understand what you said, but I think it is a bit pompous to believe that another character couldn't (or shouldn't) be as intelligent as Izaya or Shinra. I had no intention of making her intelligence excessively prominant in her plotting unless the topic arose, but it is indeed an important part of her character that I quite enjoy and feel is vital to who she is. Perhaps in some cases, yes, she CAN match the levels of Shinra and Izaya, but in different ways. Her intelligence is more of a billion and one facts spinning around her head and a passion for learning. She doesn't have Izaya's tactical processing abilities or Shinra's medical expertise, but she has her own sort of knowledge. And that's not going to change. And I would appreciate if I was able to keep her as such without a problem. If, later on, I let it become too much I would gladly chat with you about it and listen to your argument.

Thank you very much for your willingness to edit your profile! A few things about part of your response require a little clarification, so we’ll jump to that now.

First off- It’s a little offensive to the admins to be called pompous (directly or indirectly). It's also flat-out rude to say something like that. Neither of us wants to be the bad guy here, and everything we suggest is suggested to keep things fair and even for all. We want to avoid the issue of people claiming that Character X is a Mary-Sue or has Sue-like qualities, and starting fights amongst members. We don’t mean to insult you or seem cruel by any means. If we come have done so, please PM us about it so that we can discuss it.

As for the other issue, I think there was some confusion. Izaya, the character, was designed to have massive amounts of intelligence, ridiculous connections in the underground, and to pretty much be the man who seems to be holding all the strings. (While in the novels there is a certain someone that comes up and sort of threatens Izaya’s “position of power,” this forum is based on the anime, so that it can welcome the widest audience of people.) Mostly, the way you wrote some of your history made it sound as if she were trying to show other (canon) characters up. We’re not at all saying that she has to be stupid; that’s would be ridiculous and unfair. She can be very intelligent, that’s completely within your rights.

Because of the way the underground works, it doesn’t seem likely that she would simply be able to leave that life and continue comfortably in Ikebukuro. In the anime, it was noted that Masaomi Kida attempted to do this, but was dragged right back in. It isn’t a demand that this is added in, but just a note of realism that we’re offering as a thought. In your response, you did say 'And that's not going to change'. This seems a little defensive, as well as presumptuous. Again, we’re really not trying to start a fight with you or demand that you make your character less than what she is or anything of the sort, but we are hoping for a few more notes of realism.

So, I think that about covers it. Politeness, and realism, relative, of course, to the craziness that is Durarara.

Again, thank you very much.

~Shizuo